VOORHEES - This year’s Flyers development camp marks the third time around the block for defenseman Travis Sanheim.

Each time, he’s made himself a little better rounded in an attempt to surge for an NHL roster spot.

As Sanheim quickly glided through drills earlier this month in the first practice session, the smooth skater appeared to have some extra pep and assurance in his strides.

“I think being here, with this being my third camp, I know what to expect,” the 20-year-old Manitoba, Canada native said. “I’m just trying to work hard and try to make my game better and I think that’s what this summer is all about — trying to push myself as hard as I can right now and see where my game takes me.”

His game originally took him to the 17th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. From there, the 6-foot-4 blueliner started the climb.

In the Western Hockey League, Sanheim’s performance with the Calgary Hitmen last season – 68 points in 52 games – provided a look at his potential. A spot on Canada’s World Junior Championship team roster gave affirmation to that upside.

While both experiences added maturity, perhaps the most valuable lesson the left-handed defender learned came after his WHL club lost a five-game playoff series to the Red Deer Rebels.

Sanheim saw time in four games with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms at season’s end. He tallied three points and relished the opportunity.

“To be able to get those games in at the end of the year I think is crucial for me going forward,” he said. “Being able to play against men before this season starts and into camp is definitely going to help me out and I’m thankful to be able to get those games in.

“I don’t think I was too surprised with the speed. I think it was more just playing against men and having guys play you hard whether it’s you carrying the puck and them trying to get it off you or them having the puck and you trying to get it off them.”

The eye-opening aspect of the experience gave credence to general manager Ron Hextall’s original plan for Sanheim. Like many other prospects, the lanky D-man needed to pack on some weight.

“Sanheim was about 172 when we drafted him, and he has gained upwards of 25-plus pounds,” Hextall said. “He was also an immature body which was also one of the things that we liked about him. It’s taken a good two years now and it’s not done.”

One of the organizations top young players, Sanheim says the scales have him around 200 pounds, a help in his development’s stabilization.

“Right now, I’m trying to work out and train hard and put on some strength.(Make sure) that weight that I’m putting on is muscle and being able to control guys 1-on-1 and play my 1-on-1 strong,” he detailed. “As a defenseman, you’ve got to be able to box guys out and play your guys hard in the corners.”

The team’s pipeline holds an imbalance towards the back-end of the ice. Last year’s first round pick Ivan Provorov leads the way. Sam Morin – who, Hextall revealed was “under the weather” as camp opened – and Robert Hagg also join the ranks of blueline hopefuls.

Competition’s the name of the game and a WHL contest in February can shed light on Sanheim’s willingness.

In a tilt between Provorov’s Brandon Wheat Kings and Sanheim’s Hitmen, the two got in a dustup after the former leveled a Calgary forward.

“I thought it was a clean check and he wanted to step up for his teammate,” Provorov recollected. “Even though we’re friends off the ice, there’s no friends on the ice no matter who you play against. I play hard every game and he does too so we played hard on the ice and after it was all good.’

Both laughed about the event after the first practiced on Thursday morning. Despite the same end goal of an NHL spot, they showed mutual admiration.

“I don’t think it really mattered who it was there, I was going to do the exact same thing,” Sanheim said. “So I think that was something he would have done the same as well. … When it comes to on the ice, we definitely have that competitiveness to us.”